USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > History and biographical record of Lenawee County, Michigan, Volume I > Part 17
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B ENJAMIN L. HICKS was born in Bristol, Ontario county, New York, June 14th, 1820. His father, Ephraim Hicks, was born in Dighton, Bristol county, Massachusetts, July 19th, 1793. His parents, Jabez and Nancy Hicks, removed from
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Massachusetts to Ontario county, New York, where they settled, about the year 1795. Ephraim Hicks was brought up a farmer, and only received a limited education, the country being new at the time of his boyhood, while the schools were scarce and poor. He lived with his parents until he had attained his majority. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at Buffalo at the time the city was burned by the English. He lived in Ontario county until the spring of 1835, when he emigrated to Michigan, and arrived in Adrian on the 6th day of June. During that month he purchased four eighty acre lots; two from John T. Comstock, and two from the government, on sections six and seven, in Ogden. During that summer he cleared off about three acres and built a log house, and moved his family on to the land in September following. That fall he got in a little piece of wheat, but the following year he got in some corn, wheat, potatoes, and other vegetables. He cleared up, fenced, and improved eighty acres of land, and built a good frame house and two barns. He was the first supervisor elected in Ogden, in 1837, and was again elected in 1841-2-3. He saw the town of Ogden transformed from a wilderness and swamp to one of the most productive townships of the county. He saw Indian trails laid out into public highways, with fine bridges over the streams, and the roads made passable from the most horrible and almost perpetual mud ; he saw the inhabitants increase from not over twenty- five souls, to nearly two thousand, and did his full part in improving the township, and saw schools and churches, general intelligence, wealth and comfort flourish, where an impenetrable forest stood when he first saw the township. On the 12th of May, 1879, he died, at his home in Ogden, where he had lived for forty-four years. About the year 1816 he married Mrs. Mercy Walker, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Lincoln, of Taunton, Massachusetts, widow of Tisdale Walker,.of Bristol, Ontario county, New York, by whom he had two children, as follows: Nancy M., born May, 1818, now the wife of William B. Freeman, of Ogden; Benjamin L., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Mercy Hicks was born in Taunton, Bristol county, Massachusetts, March 5th, 1785, and died in Ogden, this county, August 26th, 1844. In 1849 he married Miss Phebe Ford, of Palmyra, who survives him and still lives in Ogden. Benjamin L. Hicks was brought up a farmer, and received a limit- ed education. After coming to Michigan he always worked with his father, and did his share of the hard work in clearing and improving the large farm. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of his father's original purchase, and has built a good frame house, with good and adequate barns and sheds. He has been
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elected treasurer of the township, and has served three years as supervisor of Ogden, and has done considerable in administering and settling estates. November 12th, 1844, he married Miss Nancy J. Walker, daughter of Eliakim and Nancy Walker, of Salem, Washtenaw county, Michigan, by whom he had one child which died in infancy. Mrs. Nancy J. Hicks was born in Bristol, Ontario county, New York, August 22d, 1824, and died in Ogden, April 18th, 1847. April 14th, 1863, he married Miss Julianna B. Freeman, daughter of William and Betsey Freeman, of Ogden. She was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, June 28th, 1822, and came to Michigan with her parents in 1842. [For her family connection, see William B. Freeman's record.]
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AMES L. BROWN was born in Gaines, Orleans county, New York, September 7th, 1831. His father, Benajah Brown, was born in Burlington, Otsego county, New York, September 2d, 1805. He was always a farmer, and moved with his father, Abner Brown, to Orleans county, in 1818, where they lived until the spring of 1836. They then emigrated to Michigan, and settled in the town of Scipio, Washtenaw county, where they lived until 1845, when Benajah Brown traded his farm for the one now owned by his son, James L., on section one, in Adrian town- ship, on the town line, between Raisin and Adrian, and six miles north of the city of Adrian. November 6th, 1828, Benajah Brown married Miss Sally Stone, daughter of Lewis Stone, of Galloway, Saratoga county, New York, by whom he had one son, James L. Mrs. Sally Brown was born October 14th, 1802, in Galloway, Saratoga county, New York, and died in Adrian, January 13th, 1870. Abner Brown was born near Windham, Connecticut, August 27th, 1781, and died in Adrian township, June 8th, 1866. Mrs. Abner Brown died in Adrian, February 11th, 1851. She was born in Connecticut, May 20th, 1780. James L. Brown came to Michigan with his father in 1836. He lived with his parents until 1852, when he learned the carpenter's trade, in Adrian, but only followed it about five years, when he returned home, and has paid his attention to farming ever since. He now owns and lives upon the old farm in Adrian, which has been almost entirely cleared up and fenced since he came on it with his father. It now has good buildings, and is well fenced and
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
under good cultivation. May 26th, 1853, he married Miss Maria Matis, daughter of Garrett Mattis, of Raisin, by whom he has had nine children, as follows : Charles L., born March 31st, 1854, at home ; Mary L., born October 23d, 1855, wife of Winfield Lewis, a farmer of Franklin, this county ; Edward H., born August 19th, 1857, at home; George D., born November 29th, 1860, at home ; Alice, born December 3d, 1864, at home ; But F., born February 8th, 1867, at home; Nellie. M., born April 14th, 1869. at home; Blanche, born August 30th, 1875, died August 11th, 1876; Alvord M., born August 6th; 1877, at home. Mrs. Maria Brown was born in Bridgewater, Somerset county, New Jersey, March 10th, 1837. Her father, Garrett Mattis, was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, February 9th, 1799, and came to Michigan, and settled in Macon, this county, in June, 1837. He died in Franklin, December: 17th, 1877. Her mother, Mrs. Catharine Mattis, was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, March 13th, 1806, and still lives in Tecumseh.
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HARLES M. WALKER was born in Farmington, Oakland county, Michigan, September 24th, 1834. His grand- father, Solomon Walker, was a keen, shrewd New Hampshire man, and one of the earliest settlers of Oakland county. His father, Elihu Walker, was a man of fine abilities, and was a brother of the Hon. James Walker, of Chicago, who, as a lawyer and railroad man has few equals. When three years old, Charles moved to Lapeer, Michigan, where he had the advantage of the district schools of that early day. When fifteen years old, he undertook to learn the tinner's trade, but after working at it a short time, he threw down his tools, and said : "I believe I can do better than make tin pans for a livelihood," and went immedi- ately to Oberlin college. He remained there three years, and returned to Lapeer, where he commenced the study of the law with Col. J. R. White, then a leading attorney of that county. While studying law, he supported himself by writing for N. B. Eldredge, who was then Judge of Probate for Lapeer county. As soon as he was admitted to practice, he and Col. Eldredge formed a co- partnership in the practice of law, and the sante fall he was elected prosecuting attorney, and at the end of two years, was re-elected.
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Mr. Walker early developed a great love for learning ; he was fond of literature, both ancient and modern ; he was an indefat- igable student in his profession. He early gave evidence of possessing a peculiarly legal mind. He was clear and sharp-cut in his views of legal propositions; was thoroughly versed in the common law, and when a case was stated to him, seemed to know and comprehend at once, the law which must determine it. In his practice, he was a gentleman as well as a lawyer ; he would take no mean or technical advantage of his adversary, but would protect his client's rights by all fair and honorable means, and none other. His perceptive faculties were remarkably quick ; any omission of an adversary was seen by him immediately. When the war broke out, he enlisted under N. B. Eldredge, who raised a company, and was his orderly sergeant. When the 7th Michigan Infantry was organized he was elected first Lt. of Capt. Eldredge's company, and made Quartermaster of the regiment. After serving in that position with much ability for over a year, he was appointed Provost Marshal of the Fifth congressional dis- trict. He held this position for a few months, and its duties not suiting him, he resigned, and went again to the army, and served as volunteer aid to Gen. George A. Custer. Between Gen. Custer and Mr. Walker, a very strong attachment was formed. He con- sidered the General the best cavalry officer of the war. He was with Custer in several of his severest battles, and came near being captured twice, by reason of his very indifferent horsemanship. He had a high opinion of Gen. Custer as a military leader, and as a literary man ; he believed him to be the soul of honor, and he never forgave Gen. Grant "for his shabby treatment of Gen. Custer after he gave his testimony upon the conduct of the post traders," and when the news of Custer's death and the manner in which it occurred was received, he wept like a child. After the close of the war Mr. Walker, with his old law partner, came to Adrian, and commenced the practice of his profession. He will be remembered by parties, witnesses, jurors, court and officers, as a lawyer, who, while he would do everything in his power, within the bounds of honorable practice, for his client, was never known to say an unkind word to a witness, party, court or juror. While he was with Gen. Custer, the latter applied to the President to have Mr. Walker appointed captain of commissaries, in the regular army, and after he came to Adrian, the commission was sent him by Gen. Custer, with a letter urging him to accept. This was a splendid compliment to his ability, and a fine position for a man only thirty years old, but he, without hesitation, declined, saying : " I would not like army life in time of peace, and I love home
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
too well to surrender it for position or money." He never cared for civil office, never having held any but the one of prosecuting attorney, when quite young. He had frequent opportunities for being the candidate of his party for various offices of honor and trust, but always declined, saying : "I intend to devote myself to my profession, and can't afford to hold office, for which I have no taste." He loved and enjoyed refined society as heartily as any man, but detested the low and vulgar. He possessed keen wit, and enjoyed a good joke with great zest. Mr. Walker's greatest enjoyment was in making his family happy ; he did everything in his power in providing for their wants and tastes, and spent as much of his time at home as his business would permit. His greatest pleasure was at his home, with his family and library. He will be remembered as a genial gentleman, a good lawyer, and eloquent advocate; a true friend and companion. Mr. Walker was married to Miss Charlotte J. Hodgson, at Lapeer, Michigan, June 21st, 1857, an educated and refined lady, very domes- tic and retired, who was wholly devoted to her husband and family. Mr. Walker died at his home, in Adrian, October 20th, 1878, after a very brief illness, leaving a wife and three children- two sons and a daughter. His oldest son, Ashley, has been for some time in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad, has fine business capacity, and is a quiet, gentlemanly young man. His other two children are young, and attending school. The expression of grief for his loss, and respect for his memory, was manifested by a large meeting of attorneys and citizens of Adrian, at which, feeling remarks were made by many of our prominent citizens, and resolutions of respect for his memory and worth were adopted. Just passed his forty-fourth birth day, he died in the very zenith of his vigor and usefulness ; lamented by all who knew him. Charles M. Walker was a good citizen, husband, and parent, loved his country, did his duty in every public position that he occupied, was faithful and honest in all his professional and private business relations in life. What more can be said of any man ?
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RRY FERGUSON was born in Nassau, Van Rensselaer county, New York, February 26th, 1808. His father, Henry Ferguson, was born in the same place, in 1786, where he lived until about 1816, when he went to Perinton,
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Monroe county. He was a wagon and carriage maker, and did business there until the spring of 1835, when he sold out and came to Michigan, and settled in Fairfield, this county, on the farm now owned by Henry C. Pratt. About 1845 he sold this farm, and purchased another on the school section, in the same township, where he died, in September, 1863. About 1806 he married Miss Sarah Marks, daughter of Joseph Marks, of Nassau, New York, by whom he had twelve children, Orry being the old- est. Mrs. Sarah Ferguson was born in Macedon, New York, September 9th, 1787, and died in Fairfield, September 30th, 1876. Orry Ferguson Jived with his parents until he was about fifteen years old, when he was " hired out" on a farm by the year, until he was about twenty. At this time, in 1828, he came to Michigan, arriving at Adrian in November, that year. The first thing he did was to engage his services for one year, to Milo Comstock, son of Darius Comstock, whose farm was just east of his father's, in the " Valley," in Raisin. In June, 1831, he took up one hun- dred and twenty acres of land, in Madison, now owned by Pletcher and Henry Green. He lived there until 1834, when he sold out to David Woodman, and purchased a new farm, it being the e. } of the s. w. 4 of sec. 3, in Fairfield, where he resided until 1864, and sold out to J. B. Cutshaw, afterwards purchasing of his son, Henry E. Ferguson, the n. e. 4 of the s. e. 4 of sec. 4, in Fairfield, where he now resides. Mr. Ferguson and Davis D. Bennett are the oldest settlers in Lenawee county, who now reside in Fairfield. Mr. Ferguson was quite a hunter when he first came into the county, and says that since that time he has killed over one hundred deer, besides innumerable wild turkeys. During the winter of 1832-3 salt pork was. rather "scarce," and very poor at that. Some that was brought in from Ohio-" pointer pork "-was so poor that it would not " fry itself." Mr. Ferguson started out one morning about six o'clock, after a deer, and in following one that. he had wounded, lost himself in the woods. The snow was about six inches deep at the time, but after traveling about for over twenty-four hours, he reached home. During the night he was overcome with fatigue and cold. He was obliged to build a fire or freeze his feet : the question was, how could he start a fire ? It was before matches were known, and he had no flint, punk, or tow. He finally tore a piece of cloth out of his shirt sleeve and put it in his gun and shot it against a tree. This set the rag on fire, and having some burnt coals in his pocket, he soon started a fire, but when he came to lie down, he was very cold on one side and very warm on the other, and to overcome this difficulty he built another fire and lay between them. November 4th, 1830,
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
he married Miss Cynthia W. Baker, daughter of Moses and Cynthia Baker, of Macedon, Ontario county, New York, by whom he has had two children, as follows: Henry E., born in Madison, this county, September 7th, 1831, a farmer of Fairfield ; Lucy J., born in Fairfield, August 5th, 1837, now the wife of A. W. Allen, of Fairfield village. Mrs. Cynthia Ferguson was born in Macedon, Ontario county, New York, November 25th, 1807, and came to Michigan with her husband in 1831. Her father was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, November 5th, 1776, and came to Michigan, and settled in Fairfield in 1832, where he died, November 26th, 1853. Her mother was born September 4th, 1767, and died in Fairfield. For several years Mr. Ferguson was largely engaged in buying and shipping cattle to New York, being in company, at different times, with Milton Budlong, and John Baker.
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RTHUR F. WILLIAMS was born in Blissfield, Lenawee county, Michigan, September 4th, 1852. His father, Martin D. Williams, was born in Clarkston, Chautauqua county, New York, in April, 1827. He was killed by the cars at Blissfield, January 17th, 1852, and was station agent at Blissfield at the time of his death. He married Miss Agnes McMillin, daughter of William McMillin, of Blissfield, June 1st, 1849. Arthur F. Williams received a good common school education and lived with his mother, in Blissfield, until March, 1868, when he engaged as a clerk in the grocery store of his uncle, Jewett Williams, then in business in Blissfield. He remained with him four years, when he formed a co-partnership with his uncle, Clinton Williams, and bought out Jewett Williams, doing business for about eighteen months, when his uncle sold out to John Fuller, and the firm of Williams and Fuller continued until August 7th, 1876. At this time Mr. Fuller retired and Mr. Williams has continued the business on his own account ever since. His business consists principally of groceries, provisions and crockery, and is one of the largest institutions of the kind in Lenawee county, and although Mr. Williams is a young man, his business is one of the most important and successful of any in Blissfield. He buys all kinds of farmers' produce. In 1878 he handled 45,000 bushels of wheat, besides a large amount of oats
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
and corn. His business in general produce is also very large, and the farmers of the eastern part of the county can always find a cash buyer in him. Williams' "double store" is well known thoughout the county. January 2d, 1873, he married Miss Sarah Crane, daughter of Mahlon and Emily Crane, of Blissfield. They have had two children, as follows: Edwin F., born June 23d, 1874, and died September 9th, 1874; Clara L., born February 27th, 1878. Mrs. Sarah Williams was born in Blissfield, November 12th, 1854. Her father, Mahlon Crane, was born in New York, April 6th, 1832, and now resides in Blissfield. Her mother, Mrs Emily Crane, was born in Greenville, Stark county, Ohio, January 18th, 1833.
OHN P. SILVERS was born in Sussex, New Jersey, April 14th, 1803. His father, Benjamin Silvers, was born in the same place, and lived there until 1806, when he moved to Fayette, Seneca county, New York, where he purchased a new farm, and lived until his death, which occurred by an accident with his team, in 1818. He was in the woods in the deep snow, and his horses were floundering, he going to their heads to lead them through, when he was caught between the end of the tongue and a tree, and instantly killed. About the year 1795 he married Miss Johanna Merrell, of Sussex, New Jersey, by whom he had five children, John P. being the fourth child. Mrs. Johanna Silvers died in Tyre, New York, in 1829. John P. Silvers was reared a farmer, and lived with his parents until he was about twenty-one, when he commenced for himself, and worked the old farm, in Fayette, for several years. In the spring of 1833 he sold all his effects and started for Michigan with his own team, and drove the entire distance through Pennsylvania and Ohio, includ- ing the " Black Swamp," then from Toledo to Monroe, thence through Blissfield to Adrian, and finally purchased two hundred and sixty-four acres, on sections eight and nine, in the present township of Clinton, where he has resided ever since. He com- menced work on this land about the 1st day of April, 1833. About one hundred acres were " openings," the balance being all heavy timber. That spring he plowed three acres, and planted it to potatoes, and set out fifty apple trees that he got at Rochester,
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OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
New York, which are now alive and good bearing trees. In 1834 he built a large frame barn, and got in twenty acres of wheat, and sold his crop the following year for two dollars per bushel. In 1836 he was elected supervisor of Tecumseh township, which then comprised all of the present town of Clinton. He was again elected in 1838, and re-elected in 1839-40. In 1847 he was again elected to the same office. He also served seven years as tax collector and treasurer of the township. He was twice elected justice of the peace, and served eight years. He has always been an active man and a thrifty farmer, and has taken a great interest in the growth and development of the county. He says his farm has been a good one and has produced everything but a mortgage ; that, it steadily refuses to do. In March, 1823, he married Miss Jeanette Hooper, daughter of Pontius and Elizabeth Hooper, of Junius, Seneca county, New York, by whom he had eight children, as follows: Benjamin H., now a farmer of Calhoun county, Michigan ; Caroline, now the wife of George Sisson, of Blissfield, this county ; Samuel, died in his eighth year; Lydia, now the wife of Jacob B. Smith of Clinton ; William, a farmer of Clinton ; three children died in infancy. Mrs. Jeanette Silvers was born in Junius, Seneca county, New York, and died in this county, in 1839. In 1840 he married Miss Marsha Hurlburt, of Saline, Washtenaw county, Michigan, by whom he had seven children, as follows : Edward D., works the home farm; Frank, a resident of Clinton village; David H., a merchant of Clinton village; Charles, was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and died in Louisville, Kentucky ; three died in infancy. Mrs. Marsha Silvers died in Clinton, in 1856. In 1857 he married Mrs. Sophia Burroughs, daughter of Peter and Nellie Huff, of Fayette, Seneca county, New York. She is the mother of four sons, by Mr. Burroughs, Dr. J. C. Burroughs, of Clinton, being the youngest. William resides in in Weedsport, New York, and two are dead.
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AMUEL R. ROGERS was born in New Braintree, Worcester county, Massachusetts, December 12th, 1830. His father, Deacon Obadiah Rogers, was born in Dana, Worcester county, Massachusetts, January 26th, 1792. He was brought up a farmer, and worked a rented farm in Worcester county, until the year 1831, when he came to Michigan, and took up, in the spring, the n. w. ¿ of section 27, in Raisin, Lenawee county. That year he
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
made a little improvement on his land, and sowed five acres of wheat, and in the fall went back to Massachusetts. In the spring of 1832 he returned with his family, consisting of his wife and eight children, and settled on his land. He was poor, and had expended all his means in purchasing his land and getting his family here. He lived in a shanty until he could enclose his log house, which he had "rolled up" the previous year. February
27th, 1833, his house was entirely consumed by fire, he losing nearly all of his supply of provisions, and some household goods and clothing. This was a terrible blow to a new settler, and especially a poor man, with a large family, but Sylvanus Westgate offered, and he accepted shelter in his house-a small one-until he could erect another for himself. All of the neighboring settlers assisted him, and in less than a month, he had a new and comfortable house, and the neighbors provided him with another supply of provisions. From this time he went steadily on, clearing up his land, and in 1833 he got in quite a crop. He lived to clear up, fence, and subdue one hundred and fifteen acres, and build a large frame house, with good out-buildings, etc. He was instrumental in organizing the First Congregational church of Raisin, the initial meeting being held in his log house. Services were held in the old log school house, which stood for years on the ground where the present fine brick school house stands, at Holloway's Corners-District No. 3. He also assisted largely in building both of the church edifices which were afterwards erected in the neighborhood, and always acted as deacon, up to the time of his death, which occurred September 12th, 1873. April 18th, 1814, he married Miss Lydia M. Reed, daughter of Samuel Reed, of Worcester county, Massachusetts, by whom he had eleven children, five sons and six daughters, Samuel R. being the fourth son and eighth child. Mrs. Lydia Rogers was born in Wendell, Massachu- setts, September 25th, 1794, and is still living in Raisin with her daughter, Mrs. Nathan Spencer. Samuel R. Rogers always lived with his father, and after he was twenty-one, he carried on the farm. He received a good common school education, and taught school two terms, in Ridgeway, before he was twenty-one. He has always lived on the old farm, and after the death of his father bought out all of the heirs. He came to Michigan when he was but eighteen months old, and has never been a month off of the old farm at one time. He has the most pleasant and fond recollections of his boyhood days, and tells of seeing deer and wild turkeys where his garden now is. September 29th, 1857, he married Miss Charlotte C. Foster, of Palmyra, this county, by whom he had three sons, as follows: Frank F., born August 30th, 1858, a
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